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British Columbia wildfires force evacuations for hundreds of properties
More than 80 wildfires are currently burning across British Columbia, driven largely by lightning, hot, dry weather and drought conditions. A new fire south of Boston Bar (V11090) has expanded to about 1,000 hectares, prompting the Fraser Valley Regional District to issue evacuation orders for properties south of Boston Bar, Hell’s Gate and surrounding areas, and to close Highway 1 northbound. The fire is part of the larger Brunswick Creek complex, which together with the Ainslie Creek fire (over 16,000 ha) has already led to evacuation orders for roughly 450 properties.
Provincial officials report that 600 properties are under evacuation order and 5,700 under alert, with additional alerts for the Matthew Creek and Tower Creek 2 fires near Kimberley. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar warned of continuing challenging weather and heightened fire risk. Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene urged residents to prepare grab‑and‑go kits.
United Way BC has launched a recovery fund to support nearly 10,000 evacuees, seeking donations for food, mental‑health services and long‑term community rebuilding.